Photo: Roma Neus, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Phuket's best sights are not on Phuket — they are around it, reached by boat. The Phi Phi islands, James Bond Island in Phang Nga Bay, the Similan Islands and the coral islands to the south are what people actually come for, and prices climb a ladder: from ฿2,500 per person with operators running their own piers, through ฿3,900 for Phi Phi and ฿4,500 for James Bond, to ฿5,310 in a premium small group. Private charters exist on the Phuket market but we do not list one yet — ask us and we will quote per boat. On land, the island adds real beaches, the Big Buddha, Old Phuket Town and some of Asia's best sunset viewpoints. This guide covers both — with honest prices, seasons and closures as of 2026.
The islands: Phuket's main event
Every island trip departs in the morning, takes a full day, and includes hotel pickup in most cases. Here is how the four classic directions compare.
Phi Phi Islands & Maya Bay
The most famous day trip in Thailand: limestone cliffs, Maya Bay of «The Beach», the Pileh Lagoon and snorkelling stops. A group speedboat tour to Phi Phi, Maya Bay and Bamboo Island runs ฿3,900 per adult (฿2,400 per child) with an operator that owns its pier — market-wide, group seats start around ฿1,600 on reseller storefronts. If you want Maya Bay before the crowds, a premium small-group sunrise tour (max 18 guests, at Maya Bay around 7:15 am) starts at ฿5,310 all-inclusive. Compare them all-in rather than by sticker price: the ฿3,900 tour adds a ฿400 park fee on the day, the ฿5,310 one already includes it — ฿4,300 against ฿5,310. Honest caveat: Maya Bay closes every year in August–September; tours replace it with Bamboo Island during the closure.
James Bond Island & Phang Nga Bay
A different kind of day: instead of beaches, you get vertical karst towers rising from a jade-green bay, sea caves you paddle through by canoe, and the needle-shaped rock from «The Man with the Golden Gun». The James Bond Island & Phang Nga Bay tour with sea canoe costs ฿4,500 per person for 8 hours: caves of Ko Panak and Ko Hong by kayak, Treasure Island beach and lunch on Ko Yao Noi, in a group capped at 18 adults. Worth knowing before you plan a date: the boat needs at least six guests to sail, so a couple booking a quiet weekday may be moved to another day. Phang Nga Bay is sheltered, so this trip runs comfortably year-round — a good pick for the May–October low season. More background in our James Bond Island guide.
Phi Phi or James Bond — which one?
Choose Phi Phi for swimming, snorkelling and postcard beaches; choose James Bond for scenery, canoeing through caves and a calmer, more sheltered bay. Phi Phi is the bigger «wow» in high season; Phang Nga is the safer bet in rainy months and for guests who care more about landscapes than beach time. We compare them stop by stop in Phi Phi vs James Bond Island.
Similan Islands — the best water, on a timer
The Similans are a national park in the Andaman Sea north-west of Phuket, with the clearest water in the region — and they are open only from 15 October to 15 May. Getting there is a longer day than the distance suggests: boats leave from Thap Lamu in Khao Lak, about 90 minutes by speedboat from the park, and Thap Lamu is itself 97–120 minutes by road from the Phuket beaches — 109 from Patong, 120 from Kata. In practice that means leaving before dawn: two hours in a minibus, then an hour and a half at sea. You do not need to dive to see them: a Similan snorkelling day trip starts at ฿3,490 per person with the marine park fee already in the price and no certificate needed. Divers have a two-dive day trip from ฿4,900 — plus the ฿700 park fee and equipment rental, so ฿6,000–7,000 all-in. If your trip falls between May and October, the park is closed — plan Phi Phi or Phang Nga instead.
Coral Island & Racha — the easy day at sea
Ten to thirty minutes off Phuket's south coast, Coral Island (Ko He) and Racha are the low-effort option: sandy beaches, calm snorkelling bays and a beach lunch, back by late afternoon. A group speedboat tour from Chalong Pier costs ฿2,500 per adult and ฿2,100 per child aged 4–11, with infants free; private speedboats for the same route exist on request. These islands sit close enough to run year-round.
Things to do in Phuket beyond the tour boats
The «entertainment» question has a sea answer too — Phuket is one of the few places where you can drive your own jet ski between islands legally and safely with a guide.
Jet ski island tours — you are the captain
Instead of sitting on a speedboat deck, you ride your own SEA-DOO (up to 300 hp, no licence needed) island to island with a guide. The classic route is the 6 Islands jet ski tour at ฿6,500 per jet ski (up to 2 riders, 4 hours); the extended 9 Islands tour at ฿7,500 adds the outer lagoons the tour boats never reach and a Thai lunch on Rang Yai. 6 or 9 islands? Both last about four hours; take the 9-island route if you want maximum riding and remote lagoons, the 6-island route if you want the same experience with a slightly easier pace and price. All jet ski options live on the Phuket jet ski page.
Wakesurfing in flat morning water
East-coast bays are glassy in the morning — ideal for wakesurf sessions from ฿3,500 per session, beginner-friendly with an instructor. See all boats on the Phuket wakesurf page.
Diving
Phuket is the gateway to the Similans (see above) — day trips with two dives from ฿4,900 in season. Options are collected on the Phuket diving page.
Sunset at sea
Sunset cruises are Phuket's most underrated evening: group dinner cruises to Promthep Cape and private sunset charters in Phang Nga Bay both run here — we do not list one yet, so ask us for the current operators and prices. If you would rather stay on land, Promthep Cape itself is the island's classic free sunset point.
Beaches: where to base yourself
The west coast is one long chain of beaches: Patong for nightlife and infrastructure, Karon and Kata for families and long sand, Bang Tao and Layan to the north for quieter, more upscale stays. In the November–April high season the west coast is calm and swimmable; in the green season (May–October) red flags appear on big-surf days — swim where lifeguards are posted. Our Phuket beach guide goes beach by beach.
On land: the shortlist that is actually worth it
Big Buddha — the 45-metre white marble Buddha on Nakkerd Hill, visible from half the island, with 360° views (free, dress modestly). Old Phuket Town — Sino-Portuguese shophouses, street art, weekend walking-street market and the island's best coffee. Viewpoints — Karon Viewpoint for the three-bay postcard, Promthep Cape for sunset. Wat Chalong — the island's most important temple, an easy stop on the way to Chalong Pier. Evening plans — from night markets to shows — are collected in 7 evening things to do in Phuket.
When to go: the honest season table
November–April is the dry high season: flat seas, all routes running. May–October is the green season: fewer people, lower prices, short storms — sea trips still run on most days, but stick to sheltered routes like Phang Nga. Three closures to plan around:
- Maya Bay (Phi Phi): closed every August–September; tours substitute Bamboo Island.
- Similan Islands: open 15 October – 15 May only; closed the rest of the year.
- Ang Thong Marine Park (if you continue to Samui): closed 1 November – 15 December.
If a storm does hit your tour date, operators reschedule or refund — the exact terms are listed on each tour card.
What a day costs (2026)
| Experience | Price | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Phi Phi + Maya Bay group speedboat | ฿3,900/adult | full day |
| James Bond Island + sea canoe | ฿4,500/person | 8 hours |
| Premium small-group Phi Phi sunrise | from ฿5,310/person | 8 hours |
| Similan snorkelling day trip | from ฿3,490/person | full day |
| Similan diving day trip (2 dives) | from ฿4,900/person | full day |
| Coral + Racha group speedboat | ~฿2,500/person | ~8 hours |
| Jet ski island tour (per jet ski, 2 riders) | ฿6,500–7,500 | 4 hours |
| Wakesurf session | from ฿3,500 | 1 hour |
Compare these all-in: national park fees are extra on most group tours (฿400 per adult on Phi Phi routes, ฿700 on the Similan dive trip) and already included on others — the Similan snorkelling day and the premium sunrise both build the fee into the price — which narrows the gaps between the steps. Hotel transfer is included on most group tours. Compare every live option on the Phuket boat tours page.
Going deeper on one island
This guide is the overview; two directions have their own, with prices step by step. Phi Phi from Phuket breaks down what actually differs between a budget seat and a premium one, and the Similan Islands guide covers the season window, the certificate rule and how to reach Thap Lamu. If you are still choosing the destination itself, Pattaya and Koh Samui are the two obvious alternatives.
Booking
We book directly with the operators, at their prices, with no aggregator markup — and we answer in WhatsApp in English and Russian. Tell us your dates and how many of you there are, and we will come back with what is actually available that week.
FAQ
How much does an island tour from Phuket cost?
Island day trips run ฿2,500 to ฿5,310 per person in 2026: Coral and Racha ฿2,500, a Similan snorkelling day ฿3,490, Phi Phi ฿3,900, James Bond ฿4,500, a small-group sunrise ฿5,310. National park fees are extra on most group tours.
Is Maya Bay open?
Maya Bay closes every August and September; tours substitute Bamboo Island. Full detail on access rules and which trips reach it before the crowds is in our Phi Phi guide.
Phi Phi or James Bond Island — which is better?
Phi Phi for beaches and snorkelling, James Bond for scenery and sea caves. A stop-by-stop comparison is in Phi Phi vs James Bond.
Are the Similan Islands worth it?
Yes — the Similans have the clearest water in the Phuket region, but only from 15 October to 15 May. You do not need to dive: a snorkelling day trip is ฿3,490 per person with the park fee included, and a two-dive day is ฿4,900 plus a ฿700 fee. Outside the season the park is closed.
How many days do you need in Phuket?
Four to five full days cover the essentials: one for Phi Phi, one for Phang Nga Bay, one at sea on a jet ski or at the beach, one for Old Town, Big Buddha and viewpoints — plus a Similan day in season.
6 islands or 9 islands jet ski tour?
Both are ~4-hour guided rides on your own jet ski. The 6-island route (฿6,500 per jet ski) is the classic; the 9-island route (฿7,500) adds outer lagoons and a Thai lunch on Rang Yai. Up to 2 riders per jet ski, no licence needed.
What happens if my tour is cancelled because of weather?
Operators either move your trip to another day or refund it — each operator sets its own terms, shown on the tour card before booking. Storm cancellations mostly happen in the May–October season on open-sea routes.
What can you do in Phuket in the rainy season?
Sheltered Phang Nga Bay tours, jet ski and wakesurf sessions on the calm east coast, diving in season windows, Old Town, temples and markets. Storms are short; mornings are often calm — book sea activities early in the day.
Updated: {дата публикации}. Prices are operator prices as of August 2026; check the tour card for current rates.
